Hey-o!
Alright I am safe and sound in Mesa, Arizona!
getting here stories:
The plane we took was a four people
across plane and it was quite small. Also, the guy I sat next to was AWESOME. I
sit down and the minute I sit down I noticed he texted a friend some choice
words exclaiming how angry he was that he had to sit next to a missionary. I
thought "oy this is going to be a looong flight!" And then I decided I should
probably pray to be able to talk to him, and that I hoped to change his opinion
on missionaries.
Well before we even took off he let me know he wasn't Mormon and that his
family was but that he had no interest in the church because of different things
he has found in his adult life. I'm talking to him about the weather when he
says this...so I'm all "oh..........okay........." And then I asked him about
his family and just asked very broad questions. He had his dr. dre head phones
waiting to go into his ears so I decided to try hard to talk to him the whole
plane ride so he couldn't listen to his music. I asked him about work and where
he was going and family and all the basics. He asked me about a few brief things
like where I was going and I tried hard not to get too preachy on him.
After about an hour of talking about everything from his travels to Florida
to how his parents left the church, we discussed how God loves all his children
and that even if you don't go to church every Sunday, if you're doing your best,
then you're doing great. I told him that sometimes I feel closer to Heavenly
Father on the top of mountains than in an actual church building. He agreed and
told me about a few experiences he had had on top of the mountains and in
nature. I briefly explained that the prophets always talked about having
experiences "on the top of mountains". We chatted the entire plane ride and by
the end of the ride, he had said a few times "I have no desire to be a member
now, but a few years from now, maybe."
As we got off the plane he said "thank you for talking with me. And for not
trying to get a referral from me." I told him I'd let him slide this one time if
he promised that when sisters knocked on his door years from now, he'd let them
in. He laughed and then I went to find the mission president.
Which is a funny story too because I'm walking towards baggage and some
dude is all "oy sister! Your friend is waiting for you, oh my (bad words) I
can't believe I am talking to a Mormon Missionary! You just glow, as you walked
around the corner I just knew you were who she was looking for!" I was a little
confused, he then told me he was a Christian and that his missionaries go to
South America to build churches. I told him how fantastic that was and then said
good bye. Mostly because I am super awkward these days and can't remember how to
end conversations well. I then met Sister Ellsworth in the baggage area, from
far away she looked like she could have been my companion. President Ellsworth
followed quickly after and we then waited for another VW (visa waiter) in the
lobby....and while waiting he conducted my interview and Sister Ellsworth bought
us cookies from Paradise....which was of course, heavenly.
finding out my area.....
So as I am waiting with the President for the other sister to come in I let
him know that I had family EVERYWHERE here. He told me how great that was and
that if I ever saw them to make sure to say hello and hug everyone, but that I
shouldn't set up a time to run into them because my companion would probably
feel bad. And then within the same sentence he said "but you will LOVE the area
you are going to. I can just tell YOU WILL LOVE IT" And then he proceeded to not
tell me where I was to be going for a few moments....So he looks it up and is
all you're with Sister Snodgress and Sister Soifua. (Utah and American Samoa).
They are a great companionship. they live in a basement of a home with members,
they have a big grey truck and they are on the res. .........you know, like the
Apache reservation in Scottsdale.
So as I type right now, I am in a little community center and there are
native Americans all around me. And. it. is. awesome. I am so excited about it. The
Sisters I am with are way sweet and I am so excited to be in a little closed off
area in mesa. They've been telling me all about how incredible these people are
and I can already tell it's going to be an exciting few weeks here. My mission
president's wife gave us grapefruits off her tree in the back yard and I think
this week starts the beginning of my goal to like fruit. We were in the mission
office for a while and there were a ton of sisters in there we were all chatting
with. When they heard i was going to the res they were all "no fair that area is
awesome!" ....in fact, I think I might be okay with never going to Brazil.
Brincadeira. maybe. Also, i think i spelled Brincadeira wrong. fail.
welp that's all for now!
love you all,
sister mad
p.s. here's my address:
Arizona Mesa Mission6265 north 82nd street
scottsdale, AZ 85250
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